[Day 5, ME]On the topic of championship[Closed]

[Theomore Tullison]

After the debate and ensuing entertainment, Theomore finds his way to Lord Blackwood who has taken a seat towards in his customary corner of the hall, as far away from the Brackens as the room allows, without either of them being closer to the high seat than the other, a quite clever custom initiated by some lord lost to the pages of history.

He ask for permission with eyes first. "
It has been a while, my lord."
Theomore had fought with the Blackwoods during the most recent unpleasantness with their rivals of old, meeting sporadically at other events since. "
I trust everything is well? Aside from the rather recent issue, I hope..."


[I am pestering you for hilarious consequences to my stunt in the heated debate, so Theomore will be hinting at it.]

[Reader]

"
Ah, Ser Theomore, it is a fine thing to have caught you ahead of my joust against Ser Loreth."


"
You proved your worth against the Brackens many times, and your victory in the pageant underlined the worth House Blackwood already knew."


"
I suppose it has been a fine tourney to this point, but I shall need to be at my finest to progress any further."


"
It is reassuring to have an old friend call on us in these troubled times."


He shakes his head.

"
This tournament has had an ill-start, but at least my son and I have salvaged some feats of arms from this debacle."


It is unclear whether he's referring to the attack on his daughter or the fist-fight that briefly broke out during the debate. Lord Tully had attempted to salve the dispute with an arm-wrestling contest, but a broken arm for one young Green knight had only furthered tensions.

[Theomore Tullison]

[Woops, thread is in ME, otherwise it couldn't happen after heated debate....corrected]

"
My lord is kind to say, but it does seem as if the quality of the remaining jousters is starting to look suspiciously like the list of my betters, I must likewise be at my finest to proceed any further."
Ser Torrhen would count among the weakest of the jousters in the third round, and while Theomore had never been threatened by him, the merman had not been a pushover either. "
Still, a place among the final 16 is quite respectable, and I have only once proceeded beyond that round, and that was not in quite so grand a company."


"
I must confess that this is not exactly a social call, my lord."
Theomore brings that up on the table sooner rather than later. "
There is an issue that has caught my concern, and for certain that of our lord nephew."
His tone would suggest that he wasn't entirely happy with the way Dunstan had followed up with his concern, Theomore was, after all, a man of subtlety in such affairs. "
There are many, I fear, that would benefit greatly from a quarrel between Frey and Blackwood. These men will no doubt ensure that Ser Benjen is put on trial, expecting him to trust his sword rather than Lord Tully's judgement, I imagine they also expect a Blackwood to fighting on behalf of Lady Sofia's honor. What better for them than a fight till the death between two angry men?"
He allows for a pause in his words, let them sink in before his request. "
I have a mind to deny these men such satisfaction, having another stand as champion against the Furious Frey, a knight of quality, with no other allegiance than a desire to see justice be done."

[Reader]

"
And remove the manticore's sting? Admirable subtlety Ser Theomore."


"
My son, Ser Tyron, is an able man, despite his defeat to Ser Derrock Swann in the joust. There is no shame to losing to the Aurochs with a lance in hand. Do you have his better to have?"


"
Your plan has some merit, but who would you suggest rides in defence of my daughter's honour? A competent man with some tie to House Blackwood would be ideal. Or mayhap the Aurochs himself?"


"
Ser Benjen is a knight of rare ferocity, particularly afoot, and in a trial by combat I'd advise his foe to ride his second favourite mount."


He look thoughtfully in to his cup as he ponders Ser Theomore's reply, swirling the wine.

[Theomore Tullison]

"
I would suggest a knight without affiliation to House Blackwood, my lord."
Theomore has to repeat that point, his most important one. "
A knight wearing a green cloak would be quite ideal. I do have one such candidate, Ser Kevan Lyras is the equal of Ser Benjen in my estimation, though perhaps a man of grander prowess and with a deeper shade of color would be even more ideal?"


"
One thing is to punish Ser Benjen for what he has done, this Ser Tyron can do, as can Ser Benedict or myself."
But not for the larger scheme of things, no. "
However, my lord, if one also wishes to avoid Ser Benjen's villainy to mar future relations between Blackwood and Frey, then neither man would be fitting."


"
And if the champion of justice happens to be a man counted among the true enemies of both houses, would it not seem clear to all that those who would sow discord tips their hand?"

[Reader]

"
And do you have such a champion Ser Theomore? Few men are Sen Benjen's match on foot. Fewer still have reason to risk themselves against him in single combat."

[Theomore Tullison]

"
I am working on finding one, my lord."
Ser Theomore admits. "
All I ask is that Ser Tyron does not step forth immediately when the call for a champion comes forth. And should another knight, of equal worth with sword and lance, offer to be the champion of the accuser, then I would urge that House Blackwood stands aside, truthfully declaring that in light of others coming forth, it would be better for the peace of the realm for one of them to ride against Ser Benjen."

[Reader]

"
I shall speak to Ser Tyron, my son still listens to his father's counsel. At the vital moment, I shall weigh your challenger, and restrain my boy if I judge it in my house's best interests."


"
As ever Ser Theomore, you are a friend to House Blackwood."

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